When communities work together, even small actions can make a visible difference. Throughout June, AfriForum's Bethal and Teks neighbourhood teams joined forces with residents to improve public spaces, repair roads and help restore pride in their communities.
In Bethal, volunteers removed more than 220 bags of rubbish, cleared overgrown areas, filled potholes with the support of local residents and used more than 23 tonnes of dolorite to provide temporary relief on damaged roads. In Secunda, the Teks neighbourhood team removed more than 600 bags of rubbish, cut grass across 26 hectares and assisted with several community projects, including preparations for a local school sporting event.
Hennie Bekker, AfriForum's Highveld district coordinator, said the projects reflect the important role community members are playing in maintaining their towns.
"There is almost no effective service delivery left for residents in Bethal. The neighbourhood team has indeed become the town's only hope. Although the Govan Mbeki Local Municipality is doing something these days, we are not fooled by the political games before the upcoming election," he said.
While the work highlights ongoing service delivery challenges, it also demonstrates what can be achieved when residents are willing to roll up their sleeves and work together for the benefit of their communities.